Electronic control system for adjustment of ink fountain in a printing press

ABSTRACT

An electronic system for adjusting the ink fountain in a printing press. The ink fountain includes a plurality of adjusting screws driven by a motor through a drive shaft which is clutched and declutched to the screws by means of a solenoid matrix. Energization of selected solenoids within the matrix is controlled by pushbuttons on a unit control panel. A first series of buttons is used to select the plate position at which the adjustment is to be effected, and a second series of pushbuttons is used to select the column position at which the adjustment is to be effected. A pair of separate unit control panels is provided at each printing unit in the press. A digital counter provides a visible indication of the magnitude of each adjustment commanded by the operator. The system may be used for presetting the press, as well as making adjustments during a press run. A color cylinder or half deck on the unit may be controlled through the same control panel used to control the balance of the unit.

United States Patent [151 3,702,587 Lee 1 Nov. 14, 1972 [54] ELECTRONICCONTROL SYSTEM FOR 2,994,794 8/1961 Jordan ..318/490 X ADJUSTIVIENT OFINK FOUNTAIN IN A 3,048,832 8/ 1962 Fitzner ..318/490 X N ['1 PRES PR!NG s FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Bert Leonard Lee,Downers Grove,

111. 1,267,230 5/1968 Germany ..101/365 [73] Assignee: North AmericanRockwell Corpora- Prim E i j Reed Fisher Pittsburgh, Pa Attorney-John R.Bronaugh et a1. [22] Filed: Oct. 12, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.:80,031

An electronic systemfor ad usting the ink fountain m a printing press.The ink fountain includes a plurality [52] US. Cl ..l0l/207, 101/365 ofadjusting Screws driven by a motor through a drive [51] Iltt. Cl. "B4"31/04 Shaft which is clutched and declutched to the Screws [58] Fleld OISearch 101/365, 207, 208; 318/603, by means of a Solenoid matrix.Energization of 318/8 103 selected solenoids within the matrix iscontrolled by pushbuttons on a unit control panel. A first series of[56] References cued buttons is used to select the plate position atwhich the UNITED STATES PATENTS adjustment is to be effected, and asecond series of pushbuttons is used to select the column position at3,134,325 5/1964 Worthington et a1 ..101/365 whigh the adjustment is tobe ff t d A pair f 3,4|4785 12/1968 Orahood et a] "318/603 separate unitcontrol panels is provided at each print- 3,466,5l7 9/1969 Leenhouts..3l8/603 ing unit in the press A digital counter provides a visi3,466,515 9/1969 Madsen et a1. ..318/603 ble indication f the magnitudef each adjustment 2,392,706 1/1946 Taylor et a1. ..101/365 eemmended bythe eperetee The system may be used 1,275,642 8/1918 Beehrnan 101/365for presetting the press, as well as making adjustments 3,330,393 7/1967Helmllcher ..lO1/365 X during a press run A color cylinder or f deck on3,353,484 11/1967 Koyak ..101/365 the unit may be Controlled through thesame comm] 3,057,294 10/1962 Jameson 101 /365 panel used to eemrel thebelanee of the unit 2,902,927 9/1959 Ross ..101/365 v 3,110,254 11/1963Davis ..101/365 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures fafciif v A 4 E ,e (m/A555?eve/47mm Ines" nix/52m? {,2

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PATENTEDnuv 14 I972 sum 2 or 5 ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ADJUS OFINK FOUNTAIN IN A PRINTING PRESS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Thepresent invention relates generally to an electronic system foradjusting the ink fountain in a printing press and, more particularly,to such a system which permits virtually any desired adjustment to bemade by operation of a few simple pushbuttons.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an electroniccontrol system which permits the ink fountain in any given unit of aprinting press to be automatically adjusted by selected operation of abank of pushbuttons at a single conveniently located control panel.

It is another object of the invention to provide an electronic controlsystem of the foregoing type which is capable of presetting the press aswell as making adjustments during a press run.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electronic controlsystem of the type described above which provides the operator with aninstantaneous visible indication of the magnitude of each commandedadjustment.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such an electroniccontrol system which permits adjustment of different points in the inkfountain separately or in any desired combination.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such an electroniccontrol system which provides extremely reliable operation at arelatively low cost.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide such anelectronic control system which can be efficiently manufactured andmaintained.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description taken in conjunction with theattached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic control systemembodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a control panel for use with the systemillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a more detailed schematic diagram of the unit control matrixincluded in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a more detailed schematic diagram one potion of the system ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a more detailed schematic diagram of another portion of thesystem of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a more detailed schematic diagram of still another portion ofthe system of FIG. 1.

While the invention will be described in connection with one particularembodiment, it is to be understood that it is not intended to limit theinvention to any particular embodiment. To the contrary, the intentionis to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents fallingwithin the spirit and scope of the invention.

It is well known by those familiar with the art of printing presses thata printing press of the type used to print newspapers comprises a seriesof printing units for printing the various pages of the newspaper, andat least one folding unit for receiving the printed pages and foldingthem to form the newspapers. Each printing unit includes at least oneprinting couple, and typically from two to four printing couples,depending upon whether it has a single color deck, a double color deck,or no color deck at all; each printing couple has a plate cylinder whichis typically four pages wide and two pages around so that it is capableof printing eight pages, although it is to be understood that thepresent invention is applicable to printing couples having virtually anynumber of pages along its width and/or around its circumference. If aprinting cylinder has a four-page width, it is generally considered tohave four plate positions," although the cylinder is actually capable ofreceiving eight or more printing plates, i.e., two or more at each plateposition. The four plate positions are generally identified as near,near center, far center and far.

For the purpose of supplying ink to the printing rolls, each printingcylinder is normally associated with an ink fountain having anadjustable means for controlling the rate at which ink is supplied. Topermit adjustment of the ink supply rate, the adjustable means istypically provided with a number of separate adjusting stations spacedalong the length of the cylinder. As is well known to those familiarwith the press art, both blade type and injector or pump type ink supplysystems are conventionally used with printing presses, and the presentinvention is equally applicable to any of these systems.

The illustrative system is designed for use with a fountain adjustingmechanism of the type described in US. Pat. No. 2,572,554 to E. M.Worthington, but it will be understood that the invention is equallyapplicable to any other type of adjusting means that is capable of beingcontrolled by electrical signals. In the system described in theaforementioned patent, blade adjusting screws are advanced or retracted,to adjust the flexure of the fountain blade, by means of a drive shaftwhich is coupled to selected adjusting screws by actuating solenoidsassociated with the respective screws. When the shaft is rotated in onedirection, any adjusting screws coupled thereto are advanced during theinterval that the actuating solenoids are energized; when the shaft isrotated in the opposite direction, the actuated adjusting screws areretracted during the interval that the solenoids are energized.

In FIG. 3, 51a, 51b, 51c and 51d represent the actuating solenoidsassociated with the adjusting screws at the column positions at each ofthe plate positions for a printing cylinder in one printing unit. Moreparticularly, the four solenoids SIa-S 1d actuate the far, far center,near center, and near adjusting screws, respectively, associated withone printing cylinder at the first column position. In other words, thevertical position of any given solenoid in the illustrative solenoidmatrix determines the printing cylinder and the plate position, whilethe horizontal position determines the column position. Although theillustrative solenoid matrix is for only one printing cylinder havingnine column positions, it will be understood that any desired number ofsolenoids may be provided to control a corresponding number of adjustingscrews in different types of printing units, i.e., having differentnumbers of printing cylinders and/or column positions.

In accordance with the present invention, the fountain adjusting screwsare driven by a reversible electric motor controlled by an electroniccontrol system which includes manually actuated signal generators forproducing electrical signals representing selected plate and columnpositions in the press. Thus, in the illustrative system of FIG. 1, areversible electric motor is connected to the drive shaft (not shown)which turns the adjusting screws in the conventional ink fountainadjusting mechanism.

Selection of the particular plate and column positions at which the inkfountain is to be adjusted is effected by operation of a series ofindividual page operators 21 (FIG. 1) and a series of individual columnoperators 22. In the illustrative system, the page operators 21 are inthe form of pushbutton-operated switches 21a, 21b, 21c and 21d (FIG. 2)located on a unit control panel 23 which may be situated either in thepress room or at a remote location. By depressing selected ones of thesepushbuttons 21a-21d, the operator may command an adjustment in the inkfountain at any of the four corresponding plate positions, i.e., farside (button 21a), far center (button 21b), near center (button 210) ornear side (button 21d).

The individual column operators 22 in the illustrative arrangement arein the form of two additional rows of pushbutton-operated switches 22athrough 22!, all of which are located on the control panel 23 directlybelow the pushbuttons 21a-21d. By depressing selected ones of thepushbuttons 22a through 22i, the operator may command an increase in theink supply rate at any one of the corresponding nine column positions atthe selected plat positions; or by depressing the pushbutton 22] theoperator may command an increase in the ink supply rate at all ninecolumn positions simultaneously. Similarly, by depressing selected onesof the pushbuttons 22k through 22s, the operator may command a decreasein the ink supply'rate at any one of the corresponding nine columnpositions at the selected plate positions; or by depressing pushbutton22: the operator may command a decrease in the ink supply rate at allnine column positions simultaneously. Thus it can be seen that thehorizontal position of the selected pushbutton determines the columnposition at which the change is to be effected, while the verticalposition of the selected pushbutton determines the direction of thechange to be effected.

Returning to FIG. 1 for a more detailed discussion of the control systemassociated with the operators 21 and 22, the page operators 21 aremomentary operated switches connected to a unit page selection circuit29. The circuit 29, which will be described in more detail below,responds to the actuation of any one of the operators 21 to actuate apage driver 29a which supplies enabling signals to the solenoid matrixfor the particular press unit being controlled; this solenoid matrix isidentified in FIG. 1 as the unit coil matrix 24. These signals aretransmitted from the unit page operators 21 to the unit coil matrix 24via four lines 25, 26, 27 and 28 which correspond to the four platepositions represented by the four pushbuttons 21a through 21d,respectively. It can be seen from FIG. 3 that a signal on any one of thefour lines through 28 enables all nine solenoids at the particular plateposition represented by such signal. For example, an enabling signal onthe line 25 enables all nine solenoids 51a-59a associated with the farside plate position.

Selection of the particular column positions at which the ink fountainis to be adjusted is effected by the individual column operators 22. Forexample, if the operator depresses pushbutton 21a, the resulting signaltransmitted via line 25 enables all nine solenoids associated with thefar side plate position, but any given solenoid within that group is notenergized unless and until the operator also depresses one of thepushbuttons 22a-22t: When the operator depresses one of the pushbuttons22, the corresponding solenoid is then energized so as to clutch thecorresponding adjusting screw in the ink fountain to the drive motor.For example, if the operator depresses page button 21a and then columnbutton 220, the solenoid 51a is energized to clutch the correspondingadjusting screw, i.e., at the first column position at the far side"plate position, to the drive motor. As mentioned previously, theclutching mechanism is described in more detail in the Worthington US.Pat. No. 2,572,554.

For the purpose of energizing the drive motor 20, the individual columnoperators also are connected to a motor reversing circuit 30. Asmentioned previously, the top row of column pushbuttons 220 through 22jis used to increase the ink supply rate, while the lower row of columnpushbuttons 22h through 22! is used to decrease the ink supply rate.Thus, if one of the increase buttons 22a-22j is depressed, a signal istransmitted to the motor reversing circuit 30 which energizes the drivemotor 20 to turn the ink fountain adjusting screws in the directionrequired to increase the ink supply rate. Similarly, if the operatordepresses one of the decrease buttons 22k-22t, a signal is transmittedto the motor reversing circuit 30 which energizes the motor 20 to drivethe adjusting screws in the opposite direction, i.e., in the directionrequired to decrease the ink supply rate. To enable the operator toadjust all the column positions simultaneously, the increase" row ofpushbuttons includes an all column button 22], and the decrease row ofpushbuttons includes an all" column button 22!. These all column buttonsare indicated generally as an all" column operator 72 in FIG. 1.

As long as the operator holds one of the individual column operators 22depressed, the drive motor 20 continues to turn the adjusting screws atthe selected plate and column positions. In other words, the magnitudeof the adjustment commanded by the operator is determined by the lengthof time that he holds the individual column operators 22 depressed.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, anelectronic counter responds to any adjustment of the ink fountain toprovide a continuous and instantaneous indication of the magnitude ofthe adjustment effected in response to any given command by theoperator. Thus, in the illustrative system, actuation of any one of theindividual column operators 22 sends an enabling signal via line 31 to agate 32, thereby transmitting a train of constant frequency pulses froma source 33 to a digital counter 34. As long as one of the individualcolumn operators 22 remains depressed, the gate 32 remains open, and thepulses are supplied continuously to the counter 34. The counter 34counts the input pulses continuously, and supplies a correspondingoutput signal to a conventional numeric readout indicator 35 which ismounted on the main control panel 23 (FIG. 2) to provide the operatorwith a continuous numeric indication of the magnitude of the adjustmentthat has been effected at any given instant.

As mentioned previously, the page pushbuttons 21a-21 are onlymomentary-operated, while the column pushbuttons 22a-22t must be held inthe depressed position by the operator, since it is the length of timethat the column pushbuttons are depressed that determines the magnitudeof the adjustment commanded by the operator. in order to provide theoperator with a continuous indication of which page pushbuttons 21 havebeen operated, a series of page selection indicators 36 respond to theoperation of any given page pushbutton 21a-21d to provide the operatorwith a continuing indication of which pushbutton has been operated. Forexample, the page selection indicators 36 may be in the form of lightsto illuminate the particular pushbuttons 2la-21d that have beenoperated.

When a color cylinder or half deck is included in the particularprinting unit being controlled by the illustrative system, a second setof page operators, designated the color cylinder page operators 40, areprovided on the control panel 23. This second set of page push buttonsis not included in the exemplary control panel 23 shown in FIG. 2, butis schematically illustrated in FIG. 1. As in the case of the unit pageoperators 21, a color cylinder page selection circuit 41 responds todepression of any one of the operators 40 to actuate a color cylinderselection indicator 42 to provide the operator with a continuousindication of the particular color pages that have been selected. Thecolor cylinder page selector 41 also actuates a page driver 43 whichsupplies enabling signals to a color coil matrix 44 which is identicalto the unit coil matrix 24 previously described. The matrix 44 is alsocontrolled by the same individual column operators 22 which control theunit coil matrix 24, and in exactly the same manner.

For the purpose of disabling the unit page operators 21 whenever a colorpage cylinder operator 40 is operated, and vice versa, the two controlsystems are interconnected by a unit and color cylinder interlock 45.This interlock 45 disables the unit page operators 21 whenever a colorpage operator 40 is actuated, and, similarly, disables the colorcylinder page operators 40 whenever a unit page operator 21 is actuated.

To drive the adjusting screws associated with the link fountain for thecolor cylinder, a second drive motor 46 is connected to the motorreversing circuit 30. This second drive motor 46 is controlled by thecircuit 30 in exactly the same manner as the motor previously, i.e., inresponse to actuation of the individual column operators 22.

Turning now to FIG. 4 for a more detailed description of the controlsystem which interconnects the page and column operators with thesolenoid matrix, depression of the page pushbutton 21d closes a normallyopen switch SW1. While the switch SW1 is open, resistors R1, R2, and R3form a potential divider across a supply voltage V1, thereby providingthe base drive for a transistor Q1, and a charging path for a capacitorC1. The capacitor C1 charges to a predetermined level, and thetransistor Q1 is rendered conductive as soon as there is sufficient basecurrent to provide a low voltage (referred to hereinafter simply as alow) at the collector of the transistor Q1.

Upon the closing of switch SW1, the capacitor C1 discharges through aresistor R14, thereby rendering the transistor Q1 nonconductive. Thecollector of the transistor Q1 then presents a high voltage (referred tohereinafter singly as a high") to one of the inputs to a gate G1 whichis a logic AND gate. The other input to the gate G1 is normally thepotential of V4 (high) but resistor R13 causes the input to be an activelow whenever gate G7 is active. The output of the gate G1 is normallyhigh, but upon presentation of the high input from the transistor Q1,the output of the gate G1 changes to a low. The output of the gate G1 isfed to a gate G2 which cooperates with a gate G3 to form a bistablelatch, with the output of gate G2 being nor mally low. When the outputfrom gate G1 produces a low input to G2, the gate G2 produces a highoutput, thereby producing a low at the output of gate G3. The output ofgate G3 is connected to the input of gate G2, thereby latching the highon the output of gate G2.

The high output from gate G2 provides the base current for a transistorQ2 via resistor R6 and diode D1, thereby rendering the transistor Q2conductive to energize the coil of a relay CR1. Energization of therelay CR1 closes a first pair of contacts CRla connected to the gate ofa Triac Q11 (a gate-controlled full-wave AC silicon switch designed toswitch from a blocking state to a conducting state for either polarityof applied voltage with positive or negative gate triggering) whichprovides the ground return for the coils 51a-59a (FIG. 3) in the firstplate position of the solenoid matrix 24, thereby conditioning thesecoils for energization.

In accordance with one particular aspect of the invention, the bistablelatch is always reset in response to actuation of a unit page operator21 other than the particular operator associated with the switch SW1,i.e., other than pushbutton 21d. Thus, in the illustrative system, agate G4 is provided to reset the latch if a unit page operator otherthan 21d is actuated. More particularly, one of the inputs to the gateG4 is from the output of gate G1, and is normally high; the other inputto the gate G4 is normally low and goes high for a period equal to thelength of a reset pulse generated by circuitry to be described in moredetail below. Since the output of the gate G1 is low when the switch SW1is momentarily closed, the reset pulse does not change the state of thegate G4. However, if the switch SW1 is not closed, the output of thegate G4 will go low for a preselected time interval, thereby resettingthe latch to its normal condition.

For the purpose of providing the operator with a continuing indicationof the particular page that has been selected, after themomentary-operated pushbutton 21d is released, energization of the coilof relay CR1 also closes a second pair of contacts CR1b. The closing ofthese contacts CR1b energizes an indicator light Ll, preferably mountedwithin the pushbutton 21d, to illuminate the same from a voltage sourceV3 via resistor R7. Of course, when the bistable latch is reset, asdescribed above, the indicator light L1 is turned off due to the openingof the contacts CR1b in response to deenergization of the relay CR1.

The circuitry described thus far is all associated with only onespecific page operator, namely pushbutton 21d. It will be appreciatedthat similar circuitry is associated with each of the other three unitpage operators 21a-21c, and also with each of the four color cylinderpage operators 40. More specifically, the gates G1, G1", and G1' in FIG.4 are each associated with circuitry identical to that described abovefor the gate G1. Similarly, each of the gates Gla, Gla, Gla", and Gla',which are associated with the four color cylinder page operators 40, isalso associated with circuitry identical to that described above inconnection with the gate G1.

In order to provide an interlock between the unit page operators 21 andthe color cylinder page operators 40 (FIG. 1), the output from the gateG1 is connected to a gate G5. When all the unit page operators 21 arereleased, a high is presented on each of the inputs to the gate G fromgates GlGl', thereby producing a low at the output of gate G5. Thisoutput is supplied to a gate G6, which is connected as an inverter toprovide a high input to a gate G7. When one of the unit page operators21 is actuated, the output from gate G6 changes from high to low,thereby providing a low input to each of the color cylinder gatesGla-Gla' to disable all such gates.

Similarly, the outputs from each of the gates Gla through Gla' aresupplied to a gate G8, the output of which is supplied to a gate G9,which in turn is connected as an input to each of the gates G1 throughGl' to disable the latter gates whenever one of the color cylinder pageoperators 40 is actuated. The output from the gate G9 is also suppliedto the same gate G7 which receives the output from gate G6 associatedwith the unit page operator gate GlGl"'. Of course the purpose of thisinterlock function is to limit the control of the column operators 22 toonly one ink fountain at a time. That is, the interlock insures thatoperation of the column operators 22 controls ink fountain adjustmentsonly at either the main unit cylinder or the color cylinder, but notboth at the same time.

Before any page operators 21 or 40 are actuated, the gate G7 normallyhas a high on both of its inputs, thereby providing a low output. Thislow output holds a transistor Q3 in an off condition, while transistorQ4 receives its base current through a resistor R and is turned on. Acapacitor C2 connected between transistors Q3 and Q4 is in a chargedstate, having been charged through resistor R11 and the base-emitterjunction of transistor Q4. When a page operator is actuated, the low onthe output of gate G6 appears at the input to the gate G7, therebyproviding a high at the output of gate G7 to turn the transistor Q3 on.When transistor Q3 turns on, the capacitor C2 discharges through thecollector-emitter junction of the transistor Q3, thereby pulling thebase of the transistor Q4 low to turn oh" the transistor Q4. After thecapacitor C2 is discharged sufficiently to allow the transistor Q4 todraw a suitable base current, the transistor Q4 is turned on again.Thus, the collector of the transistor Q4 produces a reset pulse, thewidth of which is determined by the value of capacitor C4 and istypically of 7 milliseconds duration, each time a page operator 2] or 40is depressed. This reset pulse is supplied to the input of gate G4 viagates G10 and G11 which are connected as inverters and provide thenecessary interface between the transistor Q4 and the bistable latchassociated with gate G4. Of course, this same pulse is also supplied tothe counterparts of gate G4 in the circuits associated with the otherpage operators, e.g., 21a, 21b, 210 (not shown in FIG. 4). Accordingly,it can be seen that the latching arrangement associated with anyoperator that is not actuated automatically receives a reset pulse whichdeactivates the circuitry associated with that particular operator.

Turning next to FIG. 5, the circuitry associated with the individualcolumn operators 22 will be described in more detail. Actuation of oneof the increase column pushbuttons 22a22i closes a normally open switchSW2, while actuation of one of the decrease column pushbuttons 22k-22rcloses a normally open switch SW3. While the switches SW2 and SW3 areboth open, resistors R17, R9 and R18 form a voltage divider across asupply voltage V5, thereby providing base current for a transistor O5 toturn the transistor on and thereby provide a low at the collector of thetransistor Q5. Three parallel input diodes D1, D2, and D3 in combinationwith the resistor R17 form an AND gate to the base of the transistor Q5.A ground on any one of the input diodes Dl-D3, due to the closing ofswitch SW2 or SW3 for example, discharges a capacitor C3 and therebyturns off the transistor Q5, allowing the output of the transistor 05 togo high. The capacitor C3 has a relatively fast discharge rate ascontrolled by resistor R8, and a slow charge rate as controlled byresistor R17, and thus effectively eliminates incorrect operation due tocontact bounce on the contacts of the switches SW2 and SW3.

As long as the transistor Q5 has a low output, a transistor Q6 connectedthereto is normally held in a non-conductive state, and a transistor O7is normally held on by a base resistor R15. In this operative state, acapacitor C4 connected between the two transistors Q6 and Q7 is in acharged, having been charged through resistor R14 and the base-emitterjunction of Q7. When the output of the transistor Q5 goes high, inresponse to actuation of one of the switches SW2 or SW3, the transistorQ6 is rendered conductive, and capacitor C4 discharges through thecollector-emitter junction of Q6, pulling the base of transistor Q7 lowto render the transistor Q7 non-conductive. After the capacitor C4 issufiiciently discharged to allow the transistor O7 to draw a suitablebase current, the transistor Q7 turns on. Thus, the collector of thetransistor Q7 provides a reset pulse; the width of the rest pulse beingdetermined by the value of capacitor C4, and is typically about 7 to 9milliseconds.

Still referring to FIG. 5, the constant frequency pulse train from thepulse source 33 and the gate 32 is applied to the base of a transistorQ8 via resistor R11. This signal is typically sinusoidal, and about 5 to8 volts peak-to-peak. The transistor Q8 is operated as a saturatedswitching transistor, giving a square wave output at its collector, andit also acts as an interface buffer for the integrated circuits whichare preferably used as the gating devices. The output from thetransistor Q8 is applied to one input of a two-input NAND gate G12,which receives its other input from the transistor Q5 in response to theclosing of switch SW2 or SW3, i.e., in response to actuation of one ofthe column operator buttons 22. When the gate G12 is thus enabled, thesquare wave present on the collector of the transistor Q8 appearsinverted at the output of the gate G12, and it is this square wave whichpresents the successive pulses to be counted by the binary counter BC1.

In order to remove steps in the rise and fall times of the square waveoutput from the gate G12, a feedback signal is supplied from the outputof the gate G12 to the base of the transistor Q8 via a resistor R13.This feedback is necessary to provide a quick fall time at the input tothe binary counter BCl. Gates G13, G14 and G15 connected between theoutput of the gate G12 and the input to the counter BCl provide furthershaping of the fall time of the signal. The counter BCl counts when thecount signal changes from high to low.

It will be noted that an additional input is available on the gate G13,for use in the manual preset mode to be described in more detail below.

For the purpose of resetting the counter BCl, the reset pulse from thetransistor Q7, described previously, is supplied via gate G16 to a gateG18, which is a NAND gate receiving its other input from a bistablelatch to be described below. The output of the gate G18 is fed through agate G19, which is connected as an inverter, to the counter BCl. Ifeither of the inputs to the gate G18 goes low, then the counter BCI isreset to zero, putting a low on each of the counter outputs 51, 52 and53. These counter outputs are connected to a gate G20, which is normallyhigh and goes low when the count reaches a preselected number, e.g., 13.The output of the gate G20 is connected to a pair of gates G21 and G22which form a bistable latch. When the output of the gate G20 goes low,the output of the gate G21, which is normally high, is forced low.Consequently, a low is provided on the reset terminal of the counter BClthrough gates G18 and G19, thereby setting the binary counter BC] tozero and returning the output of the gate G20 to a high. It will be appreciated that the counter BCI is thus cyclically reset so that itcounts the preselected number, e.g., 13, repetitively as long as itreceives input pulses from the gates G12, G13, G14 and G15.

The latch formed by the gates G21 and G22 is reset whenever the countpulse to the' input of the counter BCl goes high, thereby removing thereset condition from the counter BCl. The output from the gate G21 isalso connected to the input to a second binary counter BC2, whichreceives a count pulse each time the count on the counter BCl reaches13. The counter BC2 is a divide-by-ten counter with its output connectedto the input of a third divide-by-ten binary counter BC3. Thus, thecounter BC2 is a units counter, and the counter RC3 is a tens" counter.

In order to convert the outputs from the binary counters BC2 and BC3 toappropriate input signals for corresponding "units" and tens numericreadout units 54 and 55, respectively, the outputs from the two countersBC2 and BC3 are fed to two corresponding drivers 56 and 57,respectively, which decode the signals from the counters BC2 and BC3 todrive the readout units 54 and 55 to provide a continuous display of theinstantaneous count on the main control panel 23. The output signalsfrom the counters BC2 and BC3 are also applied to the manual presetcircuit to be described below.

As was mentioned previously, the illustrative control system of FIG. 1can be used to preset the ink fountain as well as to make adjustmentsduring a press run. More particularly, selection of the particular platepositions at which the ink fountain is to be preset is effected byoperation of the same page operators 21 and/or 40 described previously.The magnitude of the presetting adjustment to be effected at any givenplate position is effected by operation of a preset selector 47, whichmay take the form of decade switches which set a binary code on one ofthe sets of inputs to a comparator 48. The output signal from thecomparator 48 operates set and reset latches indicated generally at 49in FIG. 1, and these latches are also controlled by a preset startoperator 50. When the preset start operator 50 is actuated, the latches49 actuate the all column operator 72 and at the same time cause themotors 20 and 46 to be driven, via the motor reversing circuit 30, toreturn the ink fountains to the zero position. After the fountains havethus been reset, the latches 49 automatically start to open thefountains. The latches 49 also actuate a start/stop gate 71 to reset thecounter 34 to zero, while a hold count circuit stops the counter 34 fromoperating during the reset interval. After a predetermined timeinterval, which is selected to allow time for the ink fountain to closeat all column positions, the set latch portion of the latches 49reverses the direction of the motors 20 and 46, terminates the holdcount signal from the circuit 70, and starts operation of the digitalcounter 34 via gate 71.

In order to terminate the presetting operation when the counter 34registers a count corresponding to the preset count entered at theselector 47, the counter 34 supplies a second input to the comparator48. When the count registered by the counter 34 is identical to thepreset count selected at 47, the comparator 48 generates an outputsignal to the latches 49 to deactuate the all column operator 72 and toterminate operation of the drive motors 20 and 46. The count accumulatedby the counter 34 is indicated to the operator on the indicator 35 inthe same manner as described previously for an adjustment effectedduring a press run. When the presetting operation has been completed, ofcourse, the count indicated on the indicator 35 is identical to thepreset number entered at the selector 47.

Turning next to FIG. 6 for a more detailed description of the manualpreset system, a reset circuit is connected to the power on-off switchto insure that the latches 49 have the correct relationships. This isnecessary because when the equipment is turned on, the latching elementsin certain parts of the circuit assume random positions, and conditionscan be such that the coils of FIG. 3 are given an erroneous countingsequence. Thus, in MG. 6, turning on the power to the system renders atransistor Q20 conductive due to an apparent short circuit across acapacitor C10. The transistor 020 is an emitter follower associated witha transistor Q21 which is a common emitter DC-coupled stage whichfollows the transistor Q20 so that the collector of the transistor Q21goes low. Consequently, the capacitor C10 charges through resistors R20and R21, and the base current of the transistor Q20 is gradually reducedto the point where the transistor Q20 is turned off. This deprives thetransistor Q21 of its base current, so that the transistor Q21 isrendered non-conductive, to provide a high at the collector oftransistor Q21. Thus, a low reset pulse is produced at the collector ofthe transistor Q21, with the duration of the pulse depending upon thetime constant of the RC circuit formed by the capacitor C and theresistors R and R21; a typical time period for the reset pulse is about15 milliseconds. This reset pulse is applied, via amplifying gate G33,to gates G13 and G18 and counters RC2 and BC3 in FIG. 5, as well as togates G21 and G23 in FIG. 6.

When the power is turned on, the low signal supplied to gate G21 setsthe set latch formed by the combination of gates G21 and G22. Thesetting of the set latch puts a high on the output of the gate G21 and alow on the output of the gate G22 so as to insure that the set circuit60 is turned off, as will be described in more detail below. The lowinput to the gate G23 sets a reset latch formed by the combination ofgates G23 and G24. The setting of this latch puts a high on the outputof the gate G23 and a low on the output of gate G24 to insure that thereset circuit 61 is turned off, as will be described in more detailbelow.

The high on the output of the gate G23 also provides base current to atransistor Q23, thereby turning the transistor on to set a timer circuit62 to its off condition, and insuring that a capacitor C12 isdischarged. After a predetermined interval, such as 15 milliseconds forexample, the output at the collector of the transistor Q21 goes high,returning the inputs to gates G21 and G23 to a high, but not changingthe state of the bistable latches.

The system is now ready for depression of the preset start button 50which closes the switch SW4 (FIG. 6). Before the switch SW4 is closed, avoltage divider formed by resistors R22, R25 and R24 provides the basedrive for a transistor Q22, and a charging path for the capacitor C11.The capacitor C11 charges to a predetermined level, and the transistorQ22 is rendered conductive as soon as there is sufficient base currentto provide a low voltage at the collector of the transistor 01. When thepreset start switch SW4 is closed in response to depression of thebutton 50, the collector of the transistor Q22 goes from low to high dueto the discharge of capacitor C11 through resistor R23, thereby enablinga gate G20. That is, the transistor Q22 is turned off so that the inputto the gate G20 changes from a low to a high; the other input to thisgate is already high so that the output of the gate changes from high tolow. The low output from the gate G20 is connected to a gate G24 andthus operates the reset latch so that the output of the gate G24 changesfrom low to high and thereby causes the output of gate G23 to changefrom high to low. The low output from the gate G23 turns off thetransistor Q23 by removing its base current, and turns on a transistorQ24 via a gate G25. The turning on of the transistor Q24 energizes areset relay CRI2, thereby closing a first pair of relay contacts CR2awhich actuate the motor reversing circuit to energize the drive motors20 and 46 to reset the ink fountain to the zero position. The closing ofcontacts CR2a also operates a slave relay via diode D4 to bypass the allcolumn operator 72. The relay CR2 also closes a second pair of contactsCR2b, thereby grounding the diode D1 in FIG. 5 to operate that portionof the control system shown in FIG. 5 in the same manner as the closingof the switch SW2 or SW3, including resetting of the counter BCl tozero. Finally, the closing of contacts CR2b also energizes a resetindicator light L2 mounted on the main control panel (FIG. 2).

Returning to the gate G23, the low on the output of this gate is appliedto one of the inputs to gate G13, FIG. 5, to hold the count during thereset cycle. The low on the output of gate G23 is also applied to a gateG26 which prevents the set circuit 60 from operating. The low output ofthe gate G20 is applied to the gate G22 so as to change the output ofthe gate G22 from low to high. This high output is applied to the gateG26, although the gate G26 does not change state at this time due to thelow on its other input from the gate G23. The high output from the gateG22 is also applied to the gate G21 and this input, together with thehigh on each of the other inputs to the gate G21, changes the state ofthe set latch. The output of the gate G21 is returned to the inputterminal of the gate G20, thereby locking out further start pulses untilthe presetting action is completed. Although the operation of thelatching circuits has been described in some detail herein, it will beunderstood that the operation of these circuits actually takes place inless than a millisecond in actual operation.

Turning next to the timer circuit 62, it will be recalled that thiscircuit was turned on when the transistor Q23 was turned off. Morespecifically, resistor R25, capacitor C12, and resistor R26 form an RCnetwork with a preselected time constant, e.g., seconds. The transistorQ23 is connected across the capacitor C12 so as to switch the timingcircuit on and off, the capacitor C12 starts to charge. This increasesthe anode-to-cathode voltage across a programmable unijunctiontransistor Q25 having a gate which can be set to a predeterminedvoltage. When the anode-tocathode voltage reaches a predetermined value,e.g., 0.5 volts positive with respect to the voltage on the gate, thetransistor Q25 turns on and remains on until the capacitor C12 has beendischarged through the resistor R26 and the anode-to-cathode junction ofthe transistor Q25. When this type of transistor turns on, the gate ispulled down to ground with the anode, and then returns to its originalpotential as soon as the capacitor C12 is discharged. The resistor R27is used to set the time period for the timing circuit, and is typicallyset for 26 seconds. The gate of the transistor Q25 going low trips thereset latch formed by the gates G23 and G24, so that the output of thegate G23 goes high. At this point, the following events occur:

1. The high output from gate G23 puts a high on the input to gate G24 sothat the output of gate G24 changes from high to low. The low outputfrom the gate G24 is returned to the input of gate G23 so as to maintainthe high output on gate G23.

2. The high output from gate G23 turns on the transistor Q23 so as toeffectively turn off the timing circuit, so that it operates for onlyone time period.

3. The high output from gate G23 turns off the transistor Q24 via gateG25, thereby de-energizing the reset relay CR2 to open the contacts CR2aand CR2b, thereby stopping the resetting movement of the drive motors 20and 46 and de-energizing the indicator light L2.

4. The high output from gate G23 applies a high input to gate G26 so asto change the state of the output from this gate from high to low.

5. The output from gate G23 releases the hold count" signal supplied togate G13, FIG. 5, so that the system starts counting in the set portionof the operation.

Turning now to the actual setting operation, the low output from thegate G26 changes the output of the gate G27 from low to high. This highoutput from gate G27 turns on a transistor Q26 so as to energize a setrelay CR3. The energization of relay CR3 closes a first pair of relaycontacts CR3a which actuate the motor reversing circuit 30 to energizethe drive motors and 46 to open the ink fountain. The contacts CR3a alsomaintain the enabling signal to the all column operator 72 (FIG. 1) viadiode D5. A second pair of relay contacts CR3b closed by theenergization of the relay CR3 maintains the enabling signal supplied tothe diode D1 in FIG. 5, and also energizes a set indicator light L3mounted adjacent the light L2 on the main control panel (FIG. 2).

For the purpose of selecting the preset count which determines theoriginal setting of the ink fountain, i.e., the duration of operation ofthe motors 20 and 46 during the preset mode, the comparator 48 includesa units section 62 and a tens section 63. The units section is connectedto a units decade switch 64 which is manually set so as to produce abinary coded decimal output to a series of four NAND gates G28a, G28b,G28c, and (328d, which may be included in a single intergrated circuitmodule. Each of these NAND gates is connected as an inverter, and theoutput from each gate is connected to the input of respective exclusiveOR gates G29a, G29b, G29c and 629d, all of which may also be included ina single integrated circuit module. The other inputs to the OR gatesG29a-G29d are derived from the output from the units numeric driver inFIG. 5, namely from the four output lines from the binary counter BC2.

The tens" section 63 of the comparator 48 is connected to a tens decadeswitch 65 which is manually set to produce a binary coded decimal outputto a series of four NAND gates G3ld, G31b, G310, and G3ld, which may beincluded in a single integrated circuit module. Each of these NAND gatesis connected an an inverter, and the output from each gate is connectedto the input of respective exclusive OR gates G32a, G32b, G320 and G32d,all of which may also be included in a single integrated circuit module.The other inputs to the OR gates G32a-G32d are derived from the outputfrom the tens numeric drive in FIG. 5, namely from the four output linesfrom the binary counter BC3.

When the inputs from the numeric drivers match the inputs from the gatesG28a-G28d and G3la-G3 1d, the outputs from the gates G29a-G29d andG32a-G32d, respectively, cause a gate G to change from a high to a lowoutput. This low output signal resets the latch formed by the gates G21and G22 and stops any further movement of the drive motors 20 and 46. Ofcourse, if the switches 64 and 65 are all set to zero, the fountain willsimply be returned to its zero position, since the latch formed by thegates G21 and G22 is already reset.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an electrical ink control system for a printing press having aprinting cylinder, a plurality of platepositions along the printingcylinder, a plurality of repeated columnar positions along each plateposition, and control means for each columnar position along theprinting cylinder to regulate the flow of ink from an ink supply to therespective columnar position, the improvement comprising:

means including a first manually-operated momentary enabling switch foreach plate position along the printing cylinder for selecting the plateposition at which ink regulation is to be effected; means including afirst manually-operated momentary activating switch for each repeatedcolumnar position along a plate position for selecting the columnposition at which ink regulation is to be effected; first matrix circuitmeans for selectively connecting each different combination comprised ofone of said first momentary enabling switch means and one of said firstmomentary activating switch means in controlling relation to a differentone of said ink flow regulating control means; means including a firstpulse activated bi-stable latch for connecting each of said firstmanuallyoperated momentary enabling switch means to said first matrixcircuit means in enabling relation to all of said firstmanually-operated momentary activating switch means; means for producinga pulse signal by manual operation of any selected one of said firstenabling switch means to selectively set a respective one of said firstbi-stable latch means in enabling relation ship to all of said firstactivating switch means; and means generating a shorter duration pulsesignal by the operation of any other of said first enabling switch meansto reset said selected first bi-stable latch means in a disabledrelationship to all of said first activating switch means. 2. Theinvention defined by claim 1 in combination with a printing press havingan additional printing cylinder and corresponding plate positions,repeated columnar positions, and ink flow regulating control means,further comprising:

means including a second manually operated momentary enabling switch foreach plate position along the said additional printing cylinder forselecting the plate position at which ink regulation is to be effected;means including a second manually operated momentary activating switchfor each repeated columnar position along the said additionalcorresponding plate position for selecting the column position at whichink regulation is to be effected;

second matrix circuit means for selectively connect ing each differentcombination comprised of one of said second momentary enabling switchmeans and one of said second momentary activating switch means incontrolling relation to a different one of said additional ink flowregulating control means;

means including a second pulse activated bi-stable latch for connectingeach of said second manuallyoperated momentary enabling switch means tosaid second matrix circuit means in enabling relation to all of saidsecond manually-operated momentary activating switch means;

means for producing a pulse signal by manual operation of any selectedone of said second enabling switch means to selectively set a respectiveone of said second bi-stable latch means in enabling relationship to allof said second activating switch means; and means generating a shorterduration said first bi-stable latch also is reset by a shorter durationpulse signal generated by operation of any of said secondmanually-operated momentary enabling switch means.

PO-105O UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE R R v 9 7 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIONpatent Nm 3,702,587 Dated Novembef 14, 1972 BERT L. LEE Inventor(s) Itis certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 47, change "po-" to read "p0r-" Column 5, line 2, change"2l8.2l" to read "ma-21d" Column 8, line 35, after "Charged" insertstate Signed and sealed this 15th day of May 1973.

Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents

1. In an electrical ink control system for a printing press having aprinting cylinder, a plurality of plate positions along the printingcylinder, a plurality of repeated columnar positions along each plateposition, and control means for each columnar position along theprinting cylinder to regulate the flow of ink from an ink supply to therespective columnar position, the improvement comprising: meansincluding a first manually-operated momentary enabling switch for eachplate position along the printing cylinder for selecting the plateposition at which ink regulation is to be effected; means including afirst manually-operated momentary activating switch for each repeatedcolumnar position along a plate position for selecting the columnposition at which ink regulation is to be effected; first matrix circuitmeans for selectively connecting each different combination comprised ofone of said first momentary enabling switch means and one of said firstmomentary activating switch means in controlling relation to a differentone of said ink flow regulating control means; means including a firstpulse activated bi-stable latch for connecting each of said firstmanually-operated momentary enabling switch means to said first matrixcircuit means in enabling relation to all of said firstmanually-operated momentary activating switch means; means for producinga pulse signal by manual operation of any selected one of said firstenabling switch means to selectively set a respective one of said firstbi-stable latch means in enabling relationship to all of said firstactivating switch means; and means generating a shorter duration pulsesignal by the operation of any other of said first enabling switch meansto reset said selected first bi-stable latch means in a disabledrelationship to all of said first activating switch means.
 2. Theinvention defined by claim 1 in combination with a printing press havingan additional printing cylinder and corresponding plate positions,repeated columnar positions, and ink flow regulating control means,further comprising: means including a second manually - operatedmomentary enabling switch for each plate position along the saidadditional printing cylinder for selecting the plate position at whichink regulation is to be effected; means including a second manually -operated momentary activating switch for each repeated columnar positionalong the said additional corresponding plate position for selecting thecolumn position at which ink regulation is to be effected; second matrixcircuit means for selectively connecting each different combinationcomprised of one of said second momentary enabling switch means and oneof said second momentary activating switch means in controlling relationto a different one of said additional ink flow regulating control means;means including a second pulse activated bi-stable latch for connectingeach of said second manually-operated momentary enabling switch means tosaid second matrix circuit means in enabling relation to all of saidsecond manually-operated momentary activating switch means; means forproducing a pulse signal by manual operation of any selected one of saidsecond enabling switch means to selectively set a respective one of saidsecond bi-stable latch means in enabling relationship to all of saidsecond activating switch means; and means generating a shorter durationpulse signal by the operation of any other of said first and secondenabling switch means to reset said selected second bi-stable latchmeans in a disabled relationship to all of said second activating switchmeans.
 3. The invention defined by claim 2 wherein each said firstbi-stable latch means also is reset by a shorter duration pulse signalgenerated by operation of any of said second manually-operated momentaryenabling switch means.